By Adrian Lim
KUCHING, Feb 23: Sarawak Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Women’s secretary Cherishe Ng is appealing to the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) state government to look into the problem of poor basic infrastructure in Kampung Surih, Batu Kawah.
In a statement, she highlighted these include power supply, drainage systems, and better road accessibility which will provide a friendly environment for the villagers living there.
Ng added the villagers are also entitled to basic infrastructure although it is a squatter village and they should not be excluded from the mainstream development of the country.
Ng made the appeal while distributing rice and food essentials to the flood victims of Kampung Surih in Batu Kawa recently accompanied by Sarawak PKR members.
“Kampung Surih has had about 50 squatter families, a typical multi-racial kampung the residents of which are predominantly Iban with some Malay and Chinese.
“Some of the people have been residing there for almost 40 years and some were even born in the kampung.
“Despite having been occupied by squatters for 40 years, the kampung has not received power supply from the authority and life has been made extremely difficult relying solely on generator sets,” she said in the statement.
Ng noted Kampung Surih is located in a low-lying area and subject to floods whenever there is a downpour and high tides which cause losses for the people.
She opined the poor drainage system has not been addressed by the authority all this while and losses could have been avoided if the state government had taken the initiative to resolve the problems earlier.
Following feedback and complaints from villagers, Ng noted the squatter area has been inundated twice with water levels as high as two to four feet.
Moreover, she noted the poor condition of the roads leading to the village, which pose safety hazards for the people especially the elderly and pregnant women.
Ng observed that the condition of the road was dusty all over during dry weather and slippery while raining.
Hence, Ng hoped the state government could address the infrastructure problems of Kampung Surih and provide the villagers with the fruits of development.
Those present at the function to distribute essential goods to the villagers include PKR Bandar Kuching chief Dominique Ng, PKR Stampin branch chief David Chow and PKR Stampin branch secretary Peter Fong. — DayakDaily
